So, Bruce Arena, it had to take to 62 minutes and a surrendered goal to finally get your troops to come to your senses, eh captain?

I fear for the worst in Tukwila, Washington. More on that in a bit.

Anyway, for the record, Mike Magee's magic struck again, noble readers on the View from Victoria Street and on Bleacher Report.

Four days ago, it was his newly-discovered goalkeeping ability that made him the hero against San Jose in Major League Soccer action.

On Tuesday night, it was Magee delivering the same magic, this time in his natural position at forward that gave Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy a 2-1 victory over Charlie Naimo's Los Angeles Blues in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Titan Stadium on the campus of California State University, Fullerton in Fullerton, California.

“It was a good win. I thought the L.A. Blues played quite well. They really got after us and stepped up and pressed us for a good part of the evening," Arena admitted to reporters after the match. "I think when we went down a goal I told our guys on the sideline I wouldn't be surprised if we got two goals and win this game in regulation. In the second half we created a lot of chances and had the run of play it was just a matter of time till we got a goal.

"The [Omar] Gonzalez goal was a heck of a goal, great header. We put a lot of pressure on them and I thought the second goal was going to come. Give our opponents credit they played quite well tonight.”  

I have to say that for a side just months in existence, the Los Angeles Blues actually held their own against the league's best team in terms of overall record.

Arena was impressed.

“We should be a little bit ahead of them technically and maybe professional fitness," Arena said. "A lot of those players in the Blues have played in the league. We knew that obviously they have enough experience to give us a good game.”

To hold the Galaxy scoreless in the first half and even take the lead thanks to Cesar Rivera in the 62nd minutes takes plenty of guts. Or as they say in Mexico, cojones.

It's these types of goals that do wake up a favorite from their slumber. It's these types of goals that cause the managers to push a button, bringing in one of the starters to rectify the increasingly dire situation on the pitch.

After the 62nd minute, the addition of Juninho combined with Miguel Lopez changed the dynamics of the match. Suddenly, the Galaxy were wearing down the Blues, who—to their credit—threw everything and the kitchen sink at Arena's men.

The G's then played the type of attacking football that will be crucial towards a successful shot at revenge against the Seattle Sounders in the quarterfinals at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila. They maintained possession, defending their own third, and were rewarded for pressing the Blues with goals from Omar Gonzalez in the 75th minute and Magee in the 81st minute.

“I think we just woke up," Magee said on the victory. "I think the first half we were kind of slow and sluggish and we might have thought it that it was just going to come to us and then as soon they got the goal it kind of lit a fire under and we started playing better and obviously resulted in a win.”

I'm not sold on Brian Perk, though. Here is a keeper who literally had his dress rehearsal for next Monday's league tilt against the Sounders, and was average. He held his own, made some saves, but really could have done better stopping that Rivera goal. The backline of the Galaxy must be aware of the speed the midfielders and forward of Seattle possess.

Arena, however, thought the world of the third-string keeper not named Mike Magee.

“I thought Brian [Perk] did very well," Arena said. "I thought he had a good night. He looked comfortable in the back I was pleased with his performance.”

“Brian is steady back there," said Gonzalez. "Brian is good with his hands, good with his feet, so I had no worries about it and I think he did great tonight. I’m looking forward to him doing well against Seattle.”

If Perk gets hung out to dry like he did on that goal, Los Angeles's dominance of the Sounders in league competition might be turned on its head in a hurry.

"I have the game coming up on Monday so this is great getting used to it again," Perk said after the match. "This is great for me getting into a full game, full 90 that means something. I have played three reserve games which helped me do this and I have all the confidence to step in Monday and do the job just like I did tonight.”

As for the Galaxy, they were only able to have their serious face on after they found themselves trailing. When they make the trip for the quarterfinals, that "serious business" needs to be on for the whole 90 minutes. (Plus stoppage time and penalties, if need be.)

You know, I have been scrutinizing Mike Magee for a while due to his inability to finish, or to deliver, but in the past two matches, he has taken the initiative to acquit himself of his misdeeds by delivering the goods when it matters most.

It doesn't matter if he is a goalkeeper, a midfielder, or a forward: Mike Magee's versatility and reliability as an all-purpose player could prove useful for the remainder of the season. Heck, he could score on Real Madrid on the 16th of July if he's given the start! Magee has made strides, and he will continue to when he comes up with big plays on the pitch.

“Luckily I don’t have a twitter account because I’ve heard it’s been pretty intense on twitter," Magee said of his coming-out week. "But I’ve gotten a lot of text and phone calls from family and friends, it’s kind of fun because they are having a lot of fun with it. But it’s been pretty nerve-wracking. I’m still a little nervous from playing goalie, the butterflies haven’t left yet.”

The quarterfinal between the Sounders and the Galaxy is scheduled for Tuesday, July 12 at 7:00 p.m. PT/10:00 p.m. ET.


INS AND OUTS
Youth Academy Update

The Los Angeles Galaxy Youth Academy Under-18s ended their sorry season with a whimper as they fell to Texas Rush AJ Auxerre 3-1. Juan Mendoza scored in the 82nd minute for the Galaxy.

As for the Under-16s, they get to fight another day after they defeated the Houston Dynamo 3-1. William Raygoza scored in the 50th minute, Drew Murphy made it 2-1 in the 59th minute and Justin Dhillon put the game out of reach in the 78th minute.

With the victory, the Under-16s advance to U.S. Soccer Development Academy Finals Week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from July 9-16. Other teams progressing in the Under-16 category include CASL Chelsea FC Academy, Dallas Texans, North Carolina Fusion, PA Classics, Real Salt Lake AZ, Real So Cal and the Seattle Sounders.

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

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